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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama awarded Holocaust survivor and former United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council member, Gerda Weissmann Klein, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Gerda Weissmann Klein’s story of strength and survival has inspired millions of people around the globe,” says Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield. “Her impact has been extraordinary and her story a uniquely American one. She became one of her adopted country’s leading voices on the dangers of hate and the universality of human dignity, and it is fitting that she be honored with the nation’s highest civilian distinction. The Museum is proud that Gerda and her late husband Kurt were close partners of our institution, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well deserved recognition.”

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.